Missed the game, Saved a life

Fire Captain William Basulto was off-duty and planning to enjoy a Rams versus 49ers game, which would have been an incredibly exciting day for him. However, while enroute to the game, Basulto spotted smoke. 

Jumping to action, the fire captain pulled over and ran to Dozier Street in East Los Angeles. As he arrived, he found out that a woman was trapped on an upper floor. The floor was quickly filling with smoke, so he had to act fast.

First, he called the neighbors into action – he told them to look for a ladder for him, get their garden hoses and aim them in the right direction toward the house fire. Anything to try to calm the fire down and dial 9-1-1.

Thanks to his quick thinking and prompt action, Basulto was able to rescue Blanca, a 56-year-old woman and her dog from the second story of the home.

While one of her dogs was rescued with her, two perished in the fire and the home was completely gutted. Blanca suffered from smoke inhalation, but otherwise recovered thanks to the heroic efforts of Officer Basulto. 

18th Annual Hometown Heroes Awards 

Each year, the American Red Cross honors individuals from across Los Angeles County who have demonstrated heroism through extraordinary acts of courage and humanitarian service. We call these selfless individuals Hometown Heroes.

The nominees are ordinary citizens, who go above and beyond to help their communities -from performing CPR when a stranger collapse at a shopping mall to pulling someone from a burning car or building and so much more. They jump into action in a moment’s notice without hesitation – they are a true Hero.

Learn more about the 18th annual Hometown Hero Awards Ceremony on May, 18, 2023.